An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants
Open, continuous intake Partly repayable

Broadband and Cellular Expansion Projects

by Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

Also known as: Broadband & Cellular Expansion Stream

NOHFC funds broadband and cellular expansion in unserved/underserved Northern Ontario (below 25 Mbps, or cellular gaps along the Trans-Canada and King's Highways): 50% of eligible costs to $1 million per project, targeted at $500 per dwelling average, up to $1,500 per dwelling for 50 Mbps+ service. All-government funding is capped at 90%, and at least 85% of costs must be capital/equipment. Applicants must show ICON rejection or ineligibility.

Amount
Up to $1,000,000 $500 per dwelling (average) within the coverage area; up to $1,500 per dwelling for projects delivering 50 Mbps or greater Maximum funding from all government sources combined will not exceed 90% of costs. A minimum of 85% of eligible costs must be broadband or cellular-related capital and equipment (towers, antennas, electronics, site buildings). This award range, $1,000,000, against every tracked amount from $1,000 to $500,000,000, on a logarithmic scale.

Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.

myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Fifty (50) % of eligible costs up to a maximum of $1 million dollars per project ... $500 per dwelling (average) ... Projects that deliver 50 mbps or greater will be considered up to $1,500 per dwelling ... The maximum amount of funding from all government sources will not exceed 90%

Instrument
Conditional contribution
Status
Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
Your share
NOHFC covers up to 50% of eligible costs; at least 10% of project costs must come from non-government sources (all-government cap is 90%). Preference is given to projects with all funding sources confirmed.

myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Who qualifies
Municipalities and local boards Indigenous organizations and communities Groups and collectives
  • municipalities
  • municipal organizations
  • Indigenous communities
  • community-based networks or ICT community champions
  • Project must address unserved or underserved areas with speeds below 25 Mbps, or cellular expansion along the Trans-Canada and King's Highways
  • Applicants must demonstrate prior rejection from the ICON program or explain ICON ineligibility
  • Coverage maps and network design documentation demonstrating speed delivery capability are required

myportal.nohfc.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Municipalities, municipal organizations, Indigenous Communities, and Community-based-networks or ICT community champions

Where
Algoma District · Cochrane District · Greater Sudbury (single-tier census division) · Kenora District · Manitoulin District · Nipissing District · Parry Sound District · Rainy River District · Sudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury) · Thunder Bay District · Timiskaming District11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program.Algoma District: eligibleCochrane District: eligibleGreater Sudbury (single-tier census division): eligibleKenora District: eligibleManitoulin District: eligibleNipissing District: eligibleParry Sound District: eligibleRainy River District: eligibleSudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury): eligibleThunder Bay District: eligibleTimiskaming District: eligible

11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.

Built for
Municipalities & Local Services Boards Indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses Nonprofits & charities

Common questions

Who can apply, can an ISP apply directly?

Eligible applicants are municipalities, municipal organizations, Indigenous communities, and community-based networks or ICT community champions. Private telecoms typically participate via a community-led project rather than applying alone.

How much funding is available?

50% of eligible costs up to $1 million per project, benchmarked at $500 per dwelling on average, rising to $1,500 per dwelling for projects delivering 50 Mbps or greater. Government sources combined cannot exceed 90% of costs.

Do we need to have applied to ICON first?

Yes, applicants must demonstrate their project was rejected by the ICON (Improving Connectivity for Ontario) program or explain why it was ineligible for ICON.

What documentation is required?

Coverage maps and network design documentation demonstrating the network can deliver the claimed speeds; at least 85% of eligible costs must be broadband/cellular capital and equipment such as towers, antennas, electronics, and site buildings.

Other streams of Community Enhancement Program

Funders publish these as one program with several streams. The terms differ by stream.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

Notes on this record

The ICON prerequisite references Ontario's Improving Connectivity for Ontario program, which is not in this index's slug set, hence recorded here rather than in stacking[].

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there:

myportal.nohfc.ca